The French national nuclear safety authority, the ASN, has formally requested the regional authority in the Gard region to open a public inquiry into an application by Cogema to expand production capacity at its Melox plant in Marcoule. The inquiry would consider Cogema's plans to transfer current fuel production from its Cadarache MOX fuel facility to Melox. The Cadarache plant is due to close by early 2003 due to insufficient seismic protection.
